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Indiana is officially a basketball state again

The Colts are an average NFL team at best, Indiana and Purdue are still bad at football, Indiana does have a bright future though, but IU bball is #1 in the nation, and the Pacers contenders for #2 seed in the east, possibly #1 seed, I am the biggest football fan you will ever meet, but Indiana is officially a basketball state once again

Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

The Colts are an average NFL team at best, Indiana and Purdue are still bad at football, Indiana does have a bright future though, but IU bball is #1 in the nation, and the Pacers contenders for #2 seed in the east, possibly #1 seed, I am the biggest football fan you will ever meet, but Indiana is officially a basketball state once again

Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

I am not sure about Indianapolis yet. I agree about the colts, but I don't believe the city is fullt behind the pacers yet. Yes college basketball is back on top in Indiana, but the pacers still are going to have to prove themselves one more time before they can over take the colts, if ever. Peyton did so much to Indy, and now with Luck the city will take another losing before jumping ship. They are more patient now, because they see the potential.
Most people I talk to our positive about the Pacers, but they aren't ready to fully embrace the pacers yet. They can't tell me when the seasonstarts or anything about the preseason games, or who they got in the offseason. If I bring up Green, or DJ or Ian they don't know them yet.

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Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

I think you can see the Pacers buzz growing. Ticket sales are up and the product is at a peak that it hasn't been in years, maybe even since 2000 depending on your love of lock down defense.

Fever have a shot at a title, IU ranked #1, Pacers will have huge buzz by March. People aren't bailing on the Colts (why should they, nice group of guys there) but I do think the passion for basketball is going to come back with a vengeance.

Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

Last I checked ND is still a part of Indiana football and they're having a great season so far.

But these things are in cycles. I think Indiana was always a basketball state but for a brief period it became a football state because of Manning and the winning seasons the Colts had plus a championship something none of the teams in this state had experienced in decades.

Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

Last I checked ND is still a part of Indiana football and they're having a great season so far.

But these things are in cycles. I think Indiana was always a basketball state but for a brief period it became a football state because of Manning and the winning seasons the Colts had plus a championship something none of the teams in this state had experienced in decades.

This is what it means to be a transcendent athlete. Manning was so special, he turned INDIANA into a FOOTBALL state.

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Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

I don't mean to be rude to any people who are Colts fans first or whatever, but it was always a basketball state. Even when the Colts were great, this was still a bball state. It's not like the support for the programs like IU or Butler waned during that time period. It would take quite a bit for this to stop being a basketball state. I mean IU went through some really down times and Assembly Hall was still pretty much always full. Purdue had plenty of support, Butler like I already said.

When you duck down into High School it is not even close. Indiana pales in comparison to true football states, however we hold our own against every other high school bball hot bed.

Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

I'd say it's no more or less than both a basketball or football state. A large part of that has to do with the last decade of Colts and Pacers programs, but it is what is. I know a ton more Colts fans right now than I do Indiana basketball fans, and that's including all the colleges. I personally can't get into college sports, but that's my own personal preference.

You know what most of Indiana is doin on a Sunday afternoon. Watchin' the Colts. Basketball is huge here, but the Colts are not a minor factor in this state. Fifteen years ago you could say otherwise, but then again the Colts got here in the mid-80s and proceeded to suck for a decade, so of course their fan base didn't explode. It's exploded since then though.

The Pacers were the toast of the state during Reggie's tenure, and then suffered some huge setbacks afterwards, and even as good as they are now, still struggle to obtain their previous level of interest. I think they will eventually with the parts we have in place, but it's not there yet. The Bobby Knight-less Hoosiers don't have near the same juiciness, nor do the Gene Keady-less Boilers. Brad has brought some interest at Butler, which has been great. The Irish --- they haven't really done anything of massive relevance in a decade in either sport.

Last edited by Kid Minneapolis; 10-21-2012 at 04:34 PM.

There are two types of quarterbacks in the league: Those whom over time, the league figures out ... and those who figure out the league.

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Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

I think the key to me here is that pro sports don't determine whether you are a basketball state or a football state. It is your amateur sports IMO and always has been. Pro teams tend to fluctuate in followers way too frequently. I mean I guess if pro sports are the determining factor then New York is a baseball state.

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Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

Didn't know where to put this, but we went to the Colts game and walked to Circle Center on the way home. Plumlee and OJ were signing autographs and we got free tickets to the opener. Then Hibbert emerged from hiding to rip off his pull aways to do a dance routine to Gangnam style.

Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

I think the key to me here is that pro sports don't determine whether you are a basketball state or a football state. It is your amateur sports IMO and always has been. Pro teams tend to fluctuate in followers way too frequently. I mean I guess if pro sports are the determining factor then New York is a baseball state.

I don't know anyone that "follows" high school sports, in the many many people I deal with. I know mothers and fathers who support their kids playing high school sports, and in that case, the level of excitement/commitment/enrollment for basketball and football are at least equal, and if I really had to pick, I know way more high school football parents than I do basketball. The local high school football games are by far the biggest draw locally.

And pro sports certainly are part of the scene. Across the board, pro or collegiate or high school, I'd say basketball and football are at least neck and neck in this state.

There are two types of quarterbacks in the league: Those whom over time, the league figures out ... and those who figure out the league.

Re: Indiana is officially a basketball state again

Regardless how popular football is in this state now. I never seen one of our major basketball teams throw a game in an undefeated season. And thats why I will always have to put a cap on how much of a football fan I can be. Basketball owns my heart.